WKU vs. BAC

Deciding between Western Kentucky University and Belmont Abbey College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Western Kentucky University
Belmont Abbey College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • BAC Belmont, NC
  • Setting
  • WKU Small City
  • BAC Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WKU 16,291
  • BAC 1,388
  • Type
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • BAC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WKU #970
  • BAC #858
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WKU -
  • BAC Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • WKU Non-profit
  • BAC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WKU
  • BAC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WKU $11,652
  • BAC $19,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WKU $27,000
  • BAC $19,500
  • Room & Board
  • WKU $12,582
  • BAC $12,974
  • Average Net Price
  • WKU $12,548
  • BAC $24,726
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WKU $10,921
  • BAC $10,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WKU 99%
  • BAC 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WKU 9,840
  • BAC 4,221
  • Admitted
  • WKU 9,237
  • BAC 3,151
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WKU 93.9%
  • BAC 74.7%
  • Enrolled
  • WKU 30.2%
  • BAC 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WKU 950
  • BAC 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • WKU 18
  • BAC 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • WKU 3.42
  • BAC 3.32
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WKU B+
  • BAC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • BAC Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • WKU
  • BAC
  • ACT Range
  • WKU 16/21
  • BAC 18/26
  • SAT Range
  • WKU 840/1050
  • BAC 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WKU Test optional
  • BAC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • BAC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WKU 19:1
  • BAC 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • BAC
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WKU 50%
  • BAC 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WKU $37,100
  • BAC $41,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WKU 47%
  • BAC 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WKU $24,250
  • BAC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WKU $250
  • BAC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WKU 38%
  • BAC 54%
  • % Women
  • WKU 62%
  • BAC 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WKU Low
  • BAC Medium
  • HBCU
  • WKU No
  • BAC No
  • % White
  • WKU 76%
  • BAC 45%
  • % Asian
  • WKU 1%
  • BAC 1%
  • % Black
  • WKU 10%
  • BAC 22%
  • % Hispanic
  • WKU 3%
  • BAC 1%
  • % Native American
  • WKU 0%
  • BAC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WKU 0%
  • BAC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WKU 3%
  • BAC 0%
  • % International
  • WKU 6%
  • BAC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WKU 1%
  • BAC 28%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WKU 66%
  • BAC 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WKU 33%
  • BAC 58%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WKU Yes
  • BAC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WKU No
  • BAC No
  • Meal Plan
  • WKU Yes
  • BAC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WKU No
  • BAC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • WKU Yes
  • BAC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY with Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than BAC based on total student enrollment (16,291 students vs. 1,388 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Kentucky University is located in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting); Belmont Abbey College is in Belmont, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont Abbey College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Kentucky University 19:1; Belmont Abbey College 12:1.

WKU vs. BAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WKU or BAC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than BAC ($12,548 vs. $24,726).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Kentucky University are 3% lower than at Belmont Abbey College ($12,582 vs. $12,974).
  • Belmont Abbey College is 67.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than WKU (about $7,848 more per year; $19,500.00 vs. $11,652.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.5% higher at WKU than at Belmont Abbey College (about $7,500 more per year; $27,000.00 vs. $19,500.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University as at Belmont Abbey College (99% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Kentucky University students is 7.4% larger than aid received by Belmont Abbey College students ($10,921 vs. $10,168).

WKU vs. BAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WKU or BAC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BAC and WKU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Belmont Abbey College (1080) is 130 points higher than at WKU (950).
  • Incoming BAC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 18 at WKU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 840/1050; Belmont Abbey College 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Kentucky University 16/21; Belmont Abbey College 18/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WKU - Test optional; BAC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WKU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at BAC (3.32).
  • WKU has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than BAC (74.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.2% at WKU vs. 12.6% at BAC.

WKU vs. BAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WKU and BAC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Western Kentucky University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Belmont Abbey College's (38%).
  • Graduates from Belmont Abbey College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than WKU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,900 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Kentucky University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than BAC graduates ($24,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WKU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BAC graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More WKU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BAC students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.